Celebrating The GT40 & Ford GT

The stage was set for some scintillating sports car viewing. We'd received word several days previous from one of KIT CAR's crack advertising sales gurus, Brenda Frias, that a gathering of Ford GTs and GT40s, along with other enthusiast autos, both real and replica, would be descending upon the Ford-Premier Automotive Group-Mazda Campus in Irvine, California. From 7 to 9 a.m. every Saturday, Ford and Mazda host a free car show called Cars & Coffee. This particular Saturday, August 4, 2007, would be a special one indeed. The Ford GT National Rally II would be stopping by for coffee and a bit of showing-off before proceeding to El Toro Marine Base for a Saleen School of Speed autocross later in the day.

Cars & Coffee used to be located on Pacific Coast Highway in the Crystal Cove shopping area between Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach. You couldn't ask for a more idyllic setting to exhibit exotic sports cars, Detroit muscle, high-end and homebuilt replicas, hot rods, and vintage coachbuilt cars from the '20s and '30s. Crystal Cove even has a Starbucks that did beaucoup business every Saturday morning. The trouble was, the 300-plus autos and their owners made too much of a ruckus in the early morning weekend hours for the multi-million dollar condo dwellers whose houses line the bluffs above the Crystal Cove shopping and dining area.

2/10If you're a heterosexual male who owns an orange Superformance GT40 Mk II, then you're sure to be noticed by everyone, including those who may have ignored you in the past.

Given how scenic this stretch of Pacific Coast Highway is, it's a shame we never made it to that venue for some enthusiast automobile appreciating. The new setting is a business park and not as viable for taking photos in terms of lighting. But being in an industrial park on a Saturday morning in southern Irvine, there's far less traffic congestion than there is on Pacific Coast Highway at the beach. Plus, the cars are spread out across three parking lots. They're in their natural environment, so to speak. Some of them came off the drawing boards within the very buildings surrounding them. Credit Ford Western Regional Manager of Public Affairs John Clinard and Ford Advanced Designer Freeman Thomas for rescuing Cars & Coffee and donating their personal time every Saturday morning to organize and host this awesome event.

Approximately 90 Ford GTs exhibited, and 20 GT40s were displayed. Most of the GT40s were continuation Mk I and Mk II cars from Superformance. Several Mk III Cobra roadsters and a Daytona Coupe rounded out the field of Superformance finery on hand. Many other marques, most old and some new, and a smattering of other manufacturers' replicas made Cars & Coffee a welcome treat for all the gearheads participating and in spectator mode.

Check out some of the vehicles we felt stood out the most on this historic weekend. If you live in Southern California or are visiting, why not grab some coffee and take a gander at some gorgeous cars one early Saturday morning? For more information, visit the Cars & Coffee Web site at www.carsandcoffee.info/main.html.